Posted to the ADK High Peaks Forum: 2.17.15
So i've run out of time. Work is starting up again back in Boston and i gotta go. I've been pounding peaks trying desperately to get them all in, that's why i've been slacking on the TR front. So there won't be any more literary flourishes of trail escapades from me. For those of you who have enjoyed them, the last one i had time for, on HaBaSa: 2.12, is at the blog:http://baggerbros.blogspot.com/2015/...215-or-of.html For those of you who are stoked you don't have to deal with anymore of my silly threads, well...respect for sticking it out as long as you did. Here, in brief yet hopefully typo-free fashion is what i've been up to as of late.
2.11: HaBaSa - 29,30,31.
It was amazing and clear and everything became amazingly clear. Plus, coming back to Saranac Lake i received a flurry of text messages: the fundraiser for my friend Rupesh was a success! We reached the goal, which was $3000, on the same day i broke 30 peaks. Anyone else interested in numerology? i think it's cool stuff.
2.12: Day of Rest (the day before HaBaSa was Allen) and my dogs was barkin!
2.13/14: Sewards - 32,33,34,35.
Epic overnight with Stranger, Dobson, et. al. Dobson covered it in impressive and expressive detail in "From the Sewards, With Love," posted today.
2.16: Santas - 36,37,38.
I'm a Couchie man. There. i said it. Anyone who doesn't dig that trail is missing the mystery. I certainly understand why folks get frustrated with it, i mean, i've never seen a more meandering pathway in my life. At points you're literally walking in the opposite direction to get there - Fantastic! Plus, there's so many little coves and probably caves off the little sub-trails i'll bet only the pine martens and ghosts-of-hermits-past know the hidden treasures that trail beholds.
Santanoni is my favorite peak. There. i said that, too. Sure, there are closer, more jaw-dropping vistas, but the overall view from the top of that thing encapsulates everything - from the MacIntyres looking like an absolute behemoth monster, to the stripped out sides of the old mine (a clear reminder of what this entire park might have looked like if it weren't for some really cool people) it's like both the majesty and history are on full display from there. Plus i really dug the hike - here's the sum-- oh, there's the summ-- OH THERE's the summit! That range just has a lot of mystique. AND i had the ENTIRE RANGE to myself!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm absolutely smitten.
2.17: MSG - 39,40,41.
Has anybody else ever hiked this freakin route?!! Un.be.lievable!! Marcy's there the whole time, just hovering over your shoulder then popping out-BLAM-right in front of you and you're like: "Man! What a mountain!" i had the hardest time descending Skylight cuz Marcy just wouldn't stop staring at me. Tell ya what though - that Gray TH, not the easiest to find with everything south of Marcy completely blown in. Just saying. Won't tell you how far i got down toward Feldspar before i figured it out (embarrassing. We'll leave it at that) but it extended my day. Then, feeling pretty good for having gotten Gray at all, i wasn't paying attention to the trail, got snow-bound in the front of one of my shoes, went down face-first into what appeared to be a snowbank but beneath revealed a broken off stump. Cut my jaw. Missed my jugular. Barely. i took from both of these misfortunes life lessons i plan to put to use at just exactly the moment they're surely meant for
Tomorrow: Dix - 42-46...
Fingers crossed. Inge and Great Expectations have bravely volunteered to wing-man (and woman) for my swan song. We'll be going clockwise from 73, breaking trail the entire way, and hopefully, come sundown, i'll join the ranks.
i'll let you know how it goes.
2.11: HaBaSa - 29,30,31.
It was amazing and clear and everything became amazingly clear. Plus, coming back to Saranac Lake i received a flurry of text messages: the fundraiser for my friend Rupesh was a success! We reached the goal, which was $3000, on the same day i broke 30 peaks. Anyone else interested in numerology? i think it's cool stuff.
2.12: Day of Rest (the day before HaBaSa was Allen) and my dogs was barkin!
2.13/14: Sewards - 32,33,34,35.
Epic overnight with Stranger, Dobson, et. al. Dobson covered it in impressive and expressive detail in "From the Sewards, With Love," posted today.
2.16: Santas - 36,37,38.
I'm a Couchie man. There. i said it. Anyone who doesn't dig that trail is missing the mystery. I certainly understand why folks get frustrated with it, i mean, i've never seen a more meandering pathway in my life. At points you're literally walking in the opposite direction to get there - Fantastic! Plus, there's so many little coves and probably caves off the little sub-trails i'll bet only the pine martens and ghosts-of-hermits-past know the hidden treasures that trail beholds.
Santanoni is my favorite peak. There. i said that, too. Sure, there are closer, more jaw-dropping vistas, but the overall view from the top of that thing encapsulates everything - from the MacIntyres looking like an absolute behemoth monster, to the stripped out sides of the old mine (a clear reminder of what this entire park might have looked like if it weren't for some really cool people) it's like both the majesty and history are on full display from there. Plus i really dug the hike - here's the sum-- oh, there's the summ-- OH THERE's the summit! That range just has a lot of mystique. AND i had the ENTIRE RANGE to myself!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm absolutely smitten.
2.17: MSG - 39,40,41.
Has anybody else ever hiked this freakin route?!! Un.be.lievable!! Marcy's there the whole time, just hovering over your shoulder then popping out-BLAM-right in front of you and you're like: "Man! What a mountain!" i had the hardest time descending Skylight cuz Marcy just wouldn't stop staring at me. Tell ya what though - that Gray TH, not the easiest to find with everything south of Marcy completely blown in. Just saying. Won't tell you how far i got down toward Feldspar before i figured it out (embarrassing. We'll leave it at that) but it extended my day. Then, feeling pretty good for having gotten Gray at all, i wasn't paying attention to the trail, got snow-bound in the front of one of my shoes, went down face-first into what appeared to be a snowbank but beneath revealed a broken off stump. Cut my jaw. Missed my jugular. Barely. i took from both of these misfortunes life lessons i plan to put to use at just exactly the moment they're surely meant for
Tomorrow: Dix - 42-46...
Fingers crossed. Inge and Great Expectations have bravely volunteered to wing-man (and woman) for my swan song. We'll be going clockwise from 73, breaking trail the entire way, and hopefully, come sundown, i'll join the ranks.
i'll let you know how it goes.
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